By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-02-15 16:11:11
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
西部全明星 蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan) 坐在板凳席上，与 克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul) 的儿子小克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul II)，3岁，一同观看2013年2月17日星期日在休斯顿丰田中心举行的第62届全明星赛的中场休息。
NBA即将迎来变革。 每个人都知道这一点，因为没有人能永远打球。
即使是传奇人物也不行。
即使是那些永葆青春的人也不行。
在沿海地区举行的一次全明星周末活动中，人们广泛讨论了火炬传递和翻篇，并猜测哪些年轻、未经考验的新秀可能已经准备好填补联盟即将出现的明星真空。
就在那时，其中一位冉冉升起的新星，一位年仅21岁的马刺内线球员，在他的全明星首秀上坦白了一些事情。
“我喜欢看 迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan) 打球，” 邓肯 在1998年纽约的那个周末说道。
二十七年后，在旧金山，另一位21岁的马刺内线球员向即将退役的一代伟人致敬。 维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama) 意识到自己可能再也没有机会与他们所有人同台，于是在周六告诉记者，他已经准备好向 勒布朗·詹姆斯(LeBron James) 、 斯蒂芬·库里(Steph Curry) 和 凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant) 等人请教问题。
当联盟再次面临不确定的未来，失去那些支撑它十多年的超级巨星和故事情节时，有些事情值得我们铭记。
这并非第一次发生。
历史应该鼓励整个NBA。
它也应该鼓励圣安东尼奥。
西部全明星 邓肯 在2006年2月19日星期日在休斯顿举行的NBA全明星赛第四节中与东部全明星 勒布朗·詹姆斯 相撞。 最终东部以122-120击败西部。
尽管 邓肯 和 文班亚马 之间有很多相似之处，但他们在性格上的差异在这个周末最为明显。 在他15次全明星之旅中， 邓肯 的目标始终是尽可能躲避镜头和麦克风，主要方法是尽量表现得无聊。 另一方面， 文班亚马 欣然接受了他作为媒体焦点人物之一的地位。
但两位马刺球员进入联盟时都面临着一个机遇之窗，而他们的全明星亮相凸显了这一机会。 在 邓肯 首次亮相时，他与 乔丹 交手，后者即将赢得八年内的第六个NBA总冠军（以及三次退役中的第二次）。 文班亚马 的首次全明星赛则面对 詹姆斯 、 库里 和 杜兰特 ，他们合计拥有10枚总冠军戒指，但看起来都很难再次进入总决赛。
现在，有些人怀疑新一代人才是否能像那些偶像一样带动联盟的受欢迎程度。
就像27年前有些人怀疑的那样。
“他们质疑联盟的未来走向是正常的，”一位名叫 科比·布莱恩特(Kobe Bryant) 的新晋全明星在1998年说道。“我们能否应对压力下的局面和责任？ 时间会证明一切。 我们知道我们绝对想做到。”
今天，就像过去一样，孩子们拥有机会。 随着 乔丹 、 查尔斯·巴克利(Charles Barkley) 、 卡尔·马龙(Karl Malone) 、 哈基姆·奥拉朱旺(Hakeem Olajuwon) 和1990年代的强队逐渐退出舞台，一位来自圣安东尼奥的高个子和一位来自洛杉矶的活力后卫得以在接下来的十年中占据一席之地。
诚然， 文班亚马 并不完全像 邓肯 ，正如 卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic) 并不完全像 科比 一样。 但正如一位名叫 道格·里弗斯(Doc Rivers) 的电视分析员在1998年指出的那样，新人们不需要成为老传奇的复制品。
“为什么我们期望其他人立刻就能做到这一点呢？” 里弗斯 当时说道，指的是关于谁将取代 乔丹 的问题。“也许会有一个人拥有球技，或者拥有魅力，但在一段时间内不会出现一个集所有优点于一身的球员。 这当然很好，我希望它尽快发生。 但我认为短期内不会发生。”
2024年11月27日星期三，在圣安东尼奥举行的一场NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的 维克托·文班亚马 (1)在洛杉矶湖人队的 勒布朗·詹姆斯 (23)上篮时盖帽。（美联社图片/Darren Abate）
里弗斯 是对的。 NBA再也没有出现另一个 乔丹 。 但它确实迎来了两个王朝（马刺和湖人），统治了接下来的十年，然后（在某种程度上）又迎来了两个王朝（勇士和 詹姆斯 效力的球队），统治了此后的十年。
现在的篮球比赛在世界范围内的受欢迎程度超过了 乔丹 时期。 孩子们茁壮成长，正如1998年西部全明星队的主教练所预言的那样。
“现在，我想我们都在担心 迈克尔 、 查尔斯 或 哈基姆 退役的时候，” 乔治·卡尔(George Karl) 当时说道。“但最终，我认为当（拉里） 伯德 退役、当 魔术师约翰逊(Magic Johnson) 退役时，也存在同样的问题。 我认为联盟保持了巨大的受欢迎程度和巨大的进步。 球员们变得更好、更强壮、更壮大。
“总会有人取代他们的位置。”
当时，一位来自圣安东尼奥的21岁内线球员首次亮相全明星赛，准备证明 卡尔 是对的。
这可能不会是最后一次。
West’s Tony Parker and Tim Duncan pause during a timeout in first half action of the 62nd All-Star game against the East at the Toyota Center Sunday Feb. 17, 2013 in Houston.
Tim DUncan (21) passs the ball during the NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14, 2010. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News)
West’s Tim Duncan and Tony Parker head up court against the East during first half action of the 62nd All-Star game at the Toyota Center Sunday Feb. 17, 2013 in Houston.
West All Star Tim Duncan of San Antonio goes for a dunk in the second quarter of action between the West and West on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, at the All Stars Game at Toyota Center in Houston.
点击查看原文：As NBA once again braces for change, this Spur is ready for it
As NBA once again braces for change, this Spur is ready for it
West’s Tim Duncan sits on the bench with Chris Paul’s son Chris Paul II, 3, during halftime of the 62nd All-Star game at the Toyota Center Sunday Feb. 17, 2013 in Houston.
The NBA was about to change. Everyone knew it, because nobody can play forever.
Not even the legends.
Not even the ageless ones.
At an All-Star weekend on the coast, there was much discussion of torch-passing and page-turning, as well as speculation about which young, untested up-and-comers might be ready to step into the league’s looming star void.
And that’s when one of those up-and-comers, a 21-year-old Spurs big man making his All-Star debut, fessed up about something.
“I love to watch Michael (Jordan) play,” Tim Duncan said in New York that weekend in 1998.
Twenty-seven years later in San Francisco, another 21-year-old Spurs big man paid his respects to the greats of an outgoing generation. Victor Wembanyama, realizing he might never again get to share the stage with all of them, told reporters Saturday he had questions ready for the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
And as the league again faces an uncertain future without the megastars and storylines that carried it for more than a decade, there’s something worth remembering.
This isn’t the first time.
History should encourage the NBA as a whole.
It should encourage San Antonio, too.
West All-Star Tim Duncan collides with East All-Star LeBron James during the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. The East defeated the West 122-120.
For all of the similarities between Duncan and Wembanyama, the contrast between their personalities is most evident on weekends like this. During his 15 trips to the All-Star game, Duncan’s goal always was to dodge as many cameras and microphones as he could, mainly by being as boring as possible. Wembanyama, on the other hand, embraces his status as one of the media circus’ featured attractions.
But both Spurs entered the league with a window opening, and their All-Star introductions highlight that opportunity. At Duncan’s debut, he played against Jordan, who was on his way to his sixth NBA title in eight years (and his second of three retirements). Wembanyama’s first All-Star game comes against James, Curry and Durant, who’ve combined for 10 championship rings but all look like longshots to make another Finals.
Now, some wonder if the new crop of talent can carry the league’s popularity the way those icons did.
Just as some wondered 27 years ago.
“It’s OK for them to question where the league is headed,” a first-time All-Star named Kobe Bryant said in 1998. “Are we going to be able to handle the pressure situations and responsibilities? Time will tell. We know we definitely want to do it.”
Today, like back then, the kids have a chance. With Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and the powerhouses of the 1990s on their way out, a tall guy in San Antonio and a dynamic guard in Los Angeles were able to stake their claim on the next decade.
Granted, Wembanyama isn’t quite like Duncan, just as Luka Doncic isn’t quite like Bryant. But as a TV analyst named Doc Rivers pointed out in 1998, the new guys don’t need to be facsimiles of the old legends.
“Why are we expecting someone else to be that right away?” Rivers said then, referring to the question about who would take Jordan’s place. “There may be a guy who has the playing, or has the charisma, but there won’t be a player for a while who has it all in one package. It would be nice, and I hope it happens soon. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon.”
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) swats the ball as Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) goes to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rivers was right. The NBA never got another Jordan. What it did get was two dynasties (the Spurs and Lakers) that ruled the next decade, and then (sort of) two more (the Warriors and whoever James played for) that ruled the decade after that.
The game now is more popular worldwide than it was when Jordan was around. The kids thrived, just as predicted by the man who coached the Western Conference All-Stars in 1998.
“Now, I think we’re all worried about when Michael goes or Charles goes or Hakeem goes,” George Karl said then. “But in the end, I think that same problem existed when (Larry) Bird went, when Magic (Johnson) went. And I think the league has sustained a tremendous popularity and a tremendous improvement. The players are better, stronger and bigger.
“There will be people to take these people’s places.”
Back then, making his All-Star debut, a 21-year-old big man from San Antonio was ready to prove Karl right.
It probably wouldn’t be the last time.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News