The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 410 The Future Is Yours

After the game, the Trail Blazers' away locker room was packed with people, it was really packed.

Anyone who didn't know better would think there was a wedding being held here today, or that there were some kind of wedding pranks.

Everyone was waiting for Gan Guoyang to come out of the shower room so he could be interviewed.

With 81 points, Gan Guoyang delivered a breathtaking performance in the final game of the regular season, earning him this year's top scorer title.

Gan Guoyang could have scored more points, but after making that mid-range shot, he asked Ramsey to substitute him.

Firstly, he was indeed tired, and secondly, after reaching that ideal number, he felt much more relaxed.

Once he let out that sigh, it was hard to get it back up. Gan Guoyang knew he couldn't score any more points.

He went off the field to rest, enjoying the achievement and the cheers and applause of tens of thousands of fans.

This is an away game, in Atlanta, and Gan Guoyang conquered the place with his performance.

Although the Hawks have been a strong defensive team for the past two years, Jordan scored 61 points, Bird scored 60 points, and Gan Guoyang contributed 81 points in another game.

As expected, strong defensive teams need these star players to score to prove themselves. After all, if you're too weak and get blown out early, you don't bother with racking up points.

When Gan Guoyang came out of the shower, the flashbulbs in the changing room kept going off. Gan Guoyang was speechless. "They're taking pictures of me after my shower?"
Fortunately, I dressed properly.

Reporters swarmed over, microphones practically shoving in Gan Guoyang's face.

Everyone wanted to ask some questions, the most pressing of which was why Gan Guoyang requested to leave the game after scoring 81 points.

Gan Guoyang had been thinking about this question while he was taking a shower, so he kept thinking about how to answer it.

I can't just say that I dreamed about this number, so I have to get 81 points. How did this number appear in my dream?

Are you suggesting I watched a match...?

Unable to find an explanation, Gan Guoyang came up with another one.

For example, it symbolizes the eighty-one tribulations, but Americans don't understand Journey to the West either.

Or perhaps it symbolizes the accumulation of the previous 81 games, so why didn't you get 82 points?

After much thought, Gan Guoyang could only give a relatively honest answer: "Because I'm tired."

"Moreover, the opponent used four people to defend me, so I knew they wouldn't let me score anymore. 81 points is enough. Let's give those who come after me some goals to surpass."

Gan Guoyang spoke casually, but the reporters kept taking notes. Every word he said would become headline news. This was Gan Guoyang's night.

After answering two questions, Gan Guoyang stood up from the bench and said, "You guys shouldn't just focus on me. Tonight I scored 81 points, which is actually a team effort. Porter, Clyde, Walton, Thompson, they all gave up their ball possession and gave me the opportunity to perform. You know I'm a center. If the guards kept holding the ball and didn't pass it to me, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."

"Hey everyone! Come on over, let's take a group photo. Clyde, stop reading!"

Drexler put down his book, walked over, glanced at Gan Guoyang, and said, "Would I dare not pass the ball to you?"

"Next time I'll pass you the ball, how about you score 50 points?"

"Forget it, I don't have the stamina..."

Muttering to himself, Drexler still shook hands and hugged Gan Guoyang. Drexler's passes were all very good tonight.

Porter, Thompson, Walton, Vandeweghe, and others all came, and they stood in a row in the locker room.

Some reporter brought over a cardboard sign with the number 81 written on it and handed it to Gan Guoyang.

Just like when Chamberlain scored 100 points, the difference is that this time the camera wasn't just showing one person, but the entire Trail Blazers team.

Gan Guoyang kept his word, treating the 81 points as an honor for the whole team, not just his personal record.

The entire Trail Blazers team, along with those 81 points, will forever be etched in the classic album of NBA history.

When the Trail Blazers finally finished their post-game activities and were about to leave the arena to go back to their hotel to rest, the parking lot was once again surrounded by fans.

They were all chanting Gan Guoyang's name. It's hard to believe this was an away game. Atlanta fans were clearly more tolerant than Boston fans.

I'm frustrated when you get 50 points over me, I'm surprised when you get 60 points over me, I'm pretty good when you get 70 points over me, and you get 80 points here?
My God, you're a god, a god on the basketball court.

Gan Guoyang had to sign autographs for a large number of fans, and then thoughtfully wrote "81" on them.

These autographed T-shirts, notebooks, and basketballs fetched high prices at auction years later.

Avia also very "sharply" released an 81-point Atlanta Red commemorative edition after the game, which became the best-selling item of the season among the various quirky versions of Avia's Skyscraper series. After finally boarding the team bus and returning to the hotel, Drexler and others invited Gan Guoyang out for a drink to celebrate this spectacular scoring spree.

The last game of the regular season, before the playoffs begin, everyone can take a short rest.

Gan Guoyang refused, saying he was too tired and wanted to rest.

Then, he took out a few bills from his pocket and stuffed them into Dell Curry's hand, saying, "When you go out for drinks with them later, pay the bill yourself, consider it your payment."

Rookies often face bullying and oppression within their teams, having to do chores like buying drinks, breakfast, carrying luggage, buying tickets, and settling accounts. Most rookies endure this kind of treatment.

Only a small number of guys like Gan Guoyang, who are powerful and assertive, become fathers as soon as they join the league, and the idea of ​​them carrying luggage is simply out of the question.

When rookie players come to the Trail Blazers, Gan Guoyang never bullies them. He takes care of them off the court, but he is strict with them on the court.

Curry was somewhat grateful. As a rookie, his salary wasn't high, and he was always struggling to make ends meet. Having his teammate's support would make things much easier.

"Sonny, why don't you come along? Everyone wants to celebrate for you properly."

"No, no, I really need to rest, and I have more important things to do when I get back."

With that, Gan Guoyang returned to his room, closed the door, and immediately picked up the phone!

He first called home in Portland to report to his wife about the evening's events.

Wang Fuxi shouted excitedly on the phone, his admiration for his lover overflowing.

Even after they became husband and wife, Wang Fuxi never diminished her admiration for her husband, which is rare among couples.

How many couples who admired each other before marriage began to grow tired of each other and even belittle each other after marriage when they were in close contact?

Wang Fuxi didn't. Just like in her student days, she was still her husband's most die-hard fan and sports enthusiast.

After spending a short time being intimate with Wang Fuxi, Gan Guoyang hung up the phone and immediately dialed the main switchboard number of the Boston Hotel, then transferred to an extension.

A direct call to Michael Jordan after the game! Gan Guoyang would feel that today's performance was incomplete without this segment.

Although he had a feeling Jordan would pull the phone line, what if? What if the guy was convinced by his performance?
The receiver beeped; Jordan hadn't unplugged the phone. After ringing several times, Gan Guoyang persisted and finally got through.

"Fuck you Sonny, and congratulations, you fucking got 81 points!" Jordan's curses and congratulations came through the receiver.

The mix of "fuck squid" and "congratulations" reflects Jordan's complex emotions at this moment.

As a friend and as a basketball player, he was amazed to see Gan Guoyang score 81 points.

However, as an opponent, Gan Guoyang's performance frustrated him. He not only stole the scoring title, but also Jordan's confidence.

The Bulls' game ended earlier, with Jordan scoring 40 points, and then he started paying attention to Gan Guoyang's game.

Everyone in the locker room was listening to the commentary on the radio. When Gan Guoyang scored 71 points, the entire locker room erupted in gasps of surprise.

In fact, it wasn't just the Bulls' locker room; in many teams' locker rooms, everyone was focused on the outcome of this game.

Listening to the commentary, from 71 points, a goal, 73, another goal, 75, everyone's nerves were constantly being stimulated.

It is said that in the Lakers' locker room, during halftime, with the third quarter about to begin, everyone was so engrossed in the conversation that no one wanted to leave.

As the third quarter was about to begin, the referees wondered why neither team had entered the game yet.
Jordan sat in the corner of the locker room, covering his head. Later, every time Gan Guoyang scored a goal, he would grimace in disbelief.

No regular season game has this level of attention; not even the Christmas Day games.

When Gan Guoyang scored over 80 points, the small, champagne-scented away locker room in Boston erupted in cheers.

"I heard that in the Celtics' home locker room, Larry Bird was getting physical therapy on a massage bed when he heard that you scored 81 points, and he jumped up."

Over the phone, Jordan and Gan Guoyang recounted the medical miracle in Boston.

The two laughed heartily, and Gan Guoyang comforted Jordan, saying, "Even if someone scores 81 points, it doesn't mean they're better than you. Look at Wilt, he scored 100 points, so what! Of course, that person isn't me; I'm better than you."

Jordan said, "You're good at comforting people, Wilt will definitely come after you if he finds out."

The two talked for a long time, mostly about basketball techniques, with Gan Guoyang sharing many technical details with Jordan.

Jordan benefited greatly from the conversation, realizing that he might actually be quite different from Gan Guoyang.

"It's okay, Michael. You're still young. The future is yours."

(End of this chapter)