The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 225 The Lion
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Gan Guoyang do not have a deep relationship; their most recent off-court interaction was at the All-Star Game.

Gan Guoyang jokingly asked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, "What's the secret to your longevity?"

Jabbar rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang and replied, "Live before you die."

Aside from Magic Johnson, few newcomers dare to joke with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Even within the Lakers organization, every time Kareem Abdul-Jabbar walked into the locker room, everyone would quiet down, make way for him, and keep their distance from his locker.

This is not neglect, but respect, giving an old lion space and peace.

Gan Guoyang was noisy and aggressive on the court, and he almost wore down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's aging body during the regular season.

Off the court, he is very easygoing and peaceful, unlike most young black players who are loud and boisterous, or like some white players who are arrogant and always look down at people.

He was like the torrential rain outside, falling fiercely from the sky, but turning into trickles of water that flowed into low-lying areas once they hit the ground.

This quality attracted Jabbar, making him willing to sit down and have dinner with Gan Guoyang on a rainy day, even though the curious glances from those around them made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recalled that in the summer of 1982, he went to China with Dr. J, Irving, and others for an exhibition game.

At the time, the Lakers had just defeated the 76ers in the Finals, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 35 years old. People were hotly debating whether he would choose to retire at this point.

Just like Bill Russell at the age of 34 in 1969, he left the league with a championship and the blessings of the people to start a new life.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not leave. Instead, during the long offseason, he rested both his mind and body and regained his fighting spirit.

Especially during his time in China, away from the hustle and bustle of American society, he found a society on the other side of the Pacific that matched his style and philosophical ideas.

He challenged Han Pengshan, a giant from China, queued for food at a Muslim restaurant, and received acupuncture to relieve his migraines, which made him feel great.

Unfortunately, a fire swept through his home in 1983, burning everything to ashes.

His beloved oriental carpets, countless trophies and souvenirs from his career, and some of the photos he took during his trip to China were all swallowed up by the fire.

He recalled that his trip in 1982 was written into articles and published in some media outlets, which may have included photos of his trip to China at that time.

He spent a long time browsing through the University of Portland library but couldn't find what he wanted; two of the books he needed had already been borrowed.

When the food arrived, Jabbar ordered some vegetable salad, smoked fish, and a beef sandwich, served with whole-wheat bread and a little jam; it looked rather bland.

As they began to eat, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the silence, saying, "Sonny, I've heard you're very good at Chinese food."

Gan Guoyang was drinking coffee when he heard what Jabar said and almost spat it out. Damn it, how did he know I'm a good cook? Does he want to come to my house for dinner tonight?
"It's so-so. I... I mainly cook for myself. Others don't like the food, so I just make whatever I feel like." Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "I'm about to become the NBA's number one chef."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took a bite of his sandwich and said, “I haven’t had Chinese food for a whole season. I have a mild allergy to monosodium glutamate, which causes me to have migraines. The allergy causes muscle tension, which then affects the blood vessels in my brain, causing problems with blood circulation and resulting in severe headaches. The doctor used acupuncture on me, and now my migraines are much better, but I really miss the unique taste of Chinese food.”

Migraines plagued Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for many years, and at their worst, they would cause him to collapse in bed due to muscle tension and be unable to get up.

This is the giant's Achilles' heel. During last year's Finals against the Celtics, in addition to having to use oxygen due to the heat in the arena, he also suffered from six migraines that continued to torment him.

"A unique flavor? That's the umami flavor that Chinese cuisine particularly emphasizes, which comes from monosodium glutamate (MSG), an element found in seasonings like MSG and soy sauce. In fact, not all Chinese dishes require MSG and soy sauce; many Chinese dishes can be just as good..."

As Gan Guoyang spoke, he gradually fell silent, sensing something was amiss. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, "You still say you can't cook Chinese food."

Wang Fuxi suddenly said, "Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, didn't you go to China a few years ago?"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nodded and said, "Yes, it was an interesting journey when the Lakers won the championship in 1982."

Gan Guoyang had heard Dr. J mention this experience.

Wang Fuxi took out a photo album from his bag, flipped to a page and showed it to Jabbar, saying, "Look, aren't these photos of you during your games and trips back then?"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar glanced at it and, sure enough, it was a photo of himself competing and visiting in China in 1982.

He suddenly became excited and pointed to the tall man in the photo, saying, "His name is Han, he's about my height, and he's a very talented player. He has great lower body strength, but his upper body is relatively weak. Forrest Gump, why are you so strong, like a bull?"

Gan Guoyang was seeing these photos for the first time. He was surprised to learn that Chinese players were already competing against the world's best centers, and that these basketball pioneers were paving the way for Chinese basketball to go global. "Me? I'm naturally strong," Gan Guoyang replied. "And I pay a lot of attention to strength training. Gonzaga University was one of the first schools to emphasize strength training."

Wang Fuxi, however, said, "This player's name was Han Pengshan. He passed away in 1983 due to a heart attack... mentioned in the records..."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was shocked to hear the news. Back then, communication was not advanced, and the news of the death of a Chinese athlete would naturally not be known to Americans.

He shook his head solemnly and said, "No wonder he didn't play in the 1984 Olympics, no wonder he didn't..."

Gan Guoyang was also surprised. He didn't realize that such a talented player had passed away so early. No wonder most Chinese fans didn't know about him later.

The atmosphere became a bit heavy, but with the topic of his trip to China in the background, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar opened up and chatted with Gan Guoyang for a long time.

"To be honest, I like China. I like to see a country that, through sheer willpower, discipline, and practice, rather than plunder and war, transformed from a feudal society into a modern society in the 20th century in just 35 years. I think China is a very self-sufficient nation, introverted, resilient, and possessing a spirit of continuous self-improvement. It is not as conservative as many people say, but rather always actively and boldly seeks innovation and change."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held China in high regard. Having grown up in an era of great racial, religious, and cultural conflict, he harbored a natural anger toward American society. He once deeply hated white people and even told his mother, who had a slightly lighter complexion, that he hated every drop of white blood in her.

But as a Black man, he wasn't so Black. He once candidly shared his upbringing with Sports Illustrated, which greatly disappointed many of his Black fans.

Because he did not come from a slum, his childhood was not impoverished; he lived in a safe and comfortable middle-class community, and both his parents were alive, with his father being a top student at a music academy.

His upbringing was filled not with gunshots and sirens, but with all kinds of music and countless books. What he saw from his bedroom was not a poor street, but a monastery museum.

This is not the basketball hero that Black fans imagine.

Having converted to Islam in 1973, he bought a large house in Milwaukee for his fellow believers to live in. However, on January 18, the house was attacked by another sect, resulting in the deaths of two adults and one child, the drowning of four children in a swimming pool, and injuries to two others.

This sect is a Black sect.

After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished the 1974 NBA Finals, he could no longer live in Milwaukee.

He had to leave; he was going back to California, to Los Angeles, to be closer to UCLA and John Wooden.

However, things didn't get much better. The doubts, ridicule, and insults never stopped. When his head went bald and he wore goggles, people mocked him for looking like a praying mantis.

Ten years have passed, and his migraines have finally improved a lot this year. As the Lakers unleashed a whirlwind offense at the end of the season and continued to win, people slowly began to appreciate his timeless hook shot, calling it art.

David Stern may have played a part in this; since he took office, the cynical media has decreased, and people have become more friendly.

It may also be related to Reagan, or to technological development; society is no longer so turbulent, conflicts are no longer so sharp, and people's words have become gentler.

As Gan Guoyang listened to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's account of his homeland, the rain outside gradually subsided. Gan Guoyang looked out the window and said, "I miss it there too."

When the rain stopped, Gan Guoyang drove Jabar back to his hotel. For the convenience of his family, the dealer also gave him a Ford Crown Victoria.

Gan Guoyang didn't want it at first, but the person insisted on giving it to him and even personally delivered it to his doorstep, so he had no choice but to accept it.

Before parting, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar asked Gan Guoyang, "Gan, Riley told me that you prepare very seriously and carefully before each game, and you even use statistics and advanced mathematics."

Gan Guoyang was taken aback, thinking that Riley, this blockhead, actually believed it, and quickly nodded and said, "Yes, so you guys have to be careful."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar smiled and said, "I don't believe you."

The next day, on the evening of May 15th, the Lakers and Trail Blazers played their third game at Memorial Arena, which was packed to capacity.

Gan Guoyang changed his playing style in the second game, and began to rely on his own strength to charge forward, scoring 40 points over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

But Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also scored 37 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and made 5 blocks, trading baskets with Gan Guoyang.

而魔术师约翰逊打爆了瓦伦丁，33分19个助攻11个篮板球三双，湖人122:114，8分的优势拿下关键的第三战。

They successfully regained their home advantage.

(End of this chapter)