When Pride Still Matters

Some people exist proudly, some struggle proudly, some compete proudly, and some fail proudly, but few can quit with pride. When you finish reading this paragraph, congratulations, you have seen many players in their lives.
The embodiment of this passage is Stephen Curry saying that no one wants to touch us next season after his failure in 2021; it is Tim Duncan who firmly believed that they would not mess up before the start of the 2014 Finals; it was Kobe Bryant who said in his old age Buss's memorial service promised to bring the Lakers into the playoffs; it was Nowitzki who hid in the locker room and shed tears on the night he got rid of his reputation as a softie; it was Kevin Garnett who screamed in the sky after winning the cup; it was the reason why the 04 Pistons won and the F4 Lakers lost.
Our story will begin from that era when pride was still important.