The man who fought Ma Long for 5 games! He blocked 1.4 times to support Yao Ming s Rockets penalty area protection umbrella

Family! Today I will talk about a ruthless man who "has never looked down on him to being a deputy" - Kevin Kato!

was selected by the Mavericks in 1997 and came to the Rockets in a circle. I thought I could take over Olajuwon's class as the starting center, but I was "slapped in the face" by a big Chinese man! This plot is even more twisted than "The Legend of Zhen Huan"!

The Rockets drew Yao Ming in 2002, and Kato was blown up on the spot: "Just this thin bamboo pole? I'll be the top pick? I can withstand the confrontation and lose!" He still started in the first 5 games, but Yao Ming became more and more demonic as he fought, and he squeezed him to the bench directly! The 2-meter-11-meter-long man sat on the bench, threw a towel during training and rolled his eyes during the game, and wrote it all on his face - "I am a genuine starter, why should I give way to the rookie?"

The turning point occurred when Van Gundy took office in 2003! This old man directly played "position transformation": "Cato, go play power forward!" He thought it was "exiled", but he didn't expect to directly activate the "hidden attribute"! Kato did dirty work at the basket, picked and rolled Yao Ming, and wiped his butt. The average time of the game returned to 25 minutes, and the data was stable at 6.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 hats! Yao Ming praised after the game: "This brother is more reliable than the baby warm!"

In the 2004 playoffs, the Rockets beat the Lakers! Kato directly faced Malone, fighting for 12 rebounds in the whole game, and using his body to withstand the "postman"'s back, clearly sharing O'Neal's pressure in the penalty area! Although he lost the series in the end, fans saw it: "Cato's deputy is even better than milk tea!"

, but unfortunately, the NBA only recognizes business! After the season, he was sent to the Magic as a "dealer" and faded out of the league at the age of 32 due to a knee injury. When he retired, Yao Ming had become an All-Star center, but when he mentioned Kato, he still gave a thumbs up: "Without him taking on those dirty jobs, I was beaten up by the inside team!"

From "looking down on the rookie" to "Best Green Leaf", Kato proved with his career that there is no eternal protagonist on the basketball court, but finding the right position can still become a "necessary to win"! He may not be a star, but he is definitely the "most underrated puzzle" on Yao Ming's journey toward the rise.