บท 31: Chapter 28 He did not compete

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"He is either Michael Olowokandi or Magic Johnson, no in-between,"

As Sonny Wakaro savored Jerry West's words, he felt they were pointed.

He knew exactly why West mentioned Olowokandi—because here was a player who, before entering the NBA, made huge improvements every year, so much so that in 1998 the Clippers foolishly believed he could progress just as well in the NBA. They chose him with the first overall pick of the 1998 draft, expecting him to become the Clippers' own Olajuwon.

As beautiful as the Clippers' dream was, the shatter was equally dazzling—Olowokandi raised Elgin Baylor's blood pressure in just one month.

But why would Magic Johnson come up in West's speech?

"Magic?" Wakaro expressed his confusion.

A scarcely perceptible sneer appeared on West's lips, "1979 wasn't like now; back then many people questioned whether a big man like Ervin could play point guard professionally, and I was one of those who had great doubts. I preferred Sidney Moncrief to him."