Chapter 1050: Chapter 338: The Turning Point of Their Fate

Scottie Pippen could never become the focus, it’s simply a curse that has haunted him his entire life.

Roger put down the newspaper and picked up the “Sports Illustrated” beside him.

“Damn, are they sure this cover won’t scare the kids?” Roger shook his head.

Mutombo, sitting next to him, glanced at the cover and quickly looked away, as if he didn’t want to see even a second more: “It’s fine, the ultimate end of art is abstraction.”

This issue of “Sports Illustrated” became famous for being complained about by several parents for scaring children, although the cover itself was quite normal, just a group photo of three Timberwolves players. However, the appearance of one of them completely changed the style of the magazine cover.

For many, it was the first time they realized that abstraction doesn’t necessarily have to appear in the form of paintings.

But people shouldn’t be judged by appearances, being on the “Sports Illustrated” cover is enough to show how hot the Timberwolves were recently.

By the season’s end, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a record of 21 wins and 10 losses, ranking second in the West, only behind the Golden State Warriors.

The Timberwolves’ two signings over the summer initially weren’t much noticed; Sam Cassell had won a championship with Dream in the ’90s but was just a bench thief on the championship team. Spree had made an All-NBA Team, but that was already ten years ago.

No one thought Sam Cassell and Sprewell could bring any qualitative change to the Timberwolves.

However, the effect of their arrival was immediately apparent.

By January, Sam Cassell was averaging 24 points and 8 assists, Spree was averaging 18+5+3, they were already the best teammates Kevin Garnett ever had.

The Timberwolves GM, Kevin McHale, gave an unreserved evaluation of the lineup he assembled:

“We have height, we have scoring, we have defense. We can play fast-paced basketball, we can play slow-paced basketball. We have great role players and, as my old friend Bill Walton often says, those ‘who can perform great in crucial moments’. When I look at my team, I feel, we can do it!”

Facts proved that this Celtics’ greatest power forward wasn’t being arrogant, this Timberwolves team was indeed very strong, possibly the strongest Timberwolves team before 2024.

Being on the cover of “Sports Illustrated” is truly deserved.

Flipping open the issue with the shocking “Sports Illustrated” cover, on the first page, Roger saw the poster included in this issue, featuring himself and Tom Brady.

On the poster, the two stood with hands on hips on either side, with a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP at one’s foot, and the other’s foot surrounded by a dazzling array of honors, just the championships alone encircled Roger.

The headline at the bottom of the poster was just a simple sentence: “Champion, does it belong to Foxborough or Oakland? Can Tom and Roger reverse their fortunes?”

This year, Reebok had been bundling Roger and Tom Brady in promotions because their fates were too similar.

Last season, Tom Brady faced the embarrassment of the defending champion not making it to the playoffs, his career was just at its peak, only to quickly plunge to the bottom again.

For Roger, it was the frustrating second-round exit of the Warriors, the same fall from a three-peat peak to the bottom. And, previously whether in Orlando or Atlanta, Roger proved himself in the first season he went. But in the Bay Area, he had yet to prove this point.

The poster wasn’t wrong, both Roger and Tom Brady needed to reverse their current situation.

Roger put down the “Sports Illustrated” and glanced out the window.

The snow-covered Minneapolis Art Institute made the building look more grand and solemn.

Indeed, tonight, the Warriors’ players will have to face the currently hot Minnesota Timberwolves, braving the den!

The Warriors lost the last time they met, so this time, Roger came with an unyielding determination to win.

Roger knew that the Minnesota Timberwolves could be a formidable opponent in the playoffs, so he had to gain some winning experience in the regular season.

At that moment, Roger’s phone vibrated, someone was calling, it was the person who filmed the poster with him.

“Did you see the poster included in this issue of ‘Sports Illustrated’? It’s badass!”

“I think because of the cover, a lot of people might miss this poster. Bringing this magazine home is like bringing something unclean back.” Roger joked.

“No worries, they can be the magazine’s cover, but they may not be able to handle you. I’ll watch the game tonight, crush them Roger, crush them! Crush any opponent that might threaten the championship, go on, reverse everything!”

Roger didn’t know how his contact with Tom Brady became so frequent.

It seemed to start right after last season ended.

Tom Brady and Roger realized their fates were incredibly similar, always resonating in some things.

So their contact started to become frequent, they would occasionally encourage each other and call to greet before each other’s crucial games.

Roger hoped to see Tom Brady succeed, and Tom Brady also wanted to see Roger succeed.

Whether it was Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, or Roger and Tom Brady, they all shared a common goal — to reverse their current situation!