The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 602 You are very brave

After the training camp in Washington, Forrest Gump, Jordan, Barkley, and their friends will go their separate ways and return to their respective teams.

As summer quietly passes and autumn arrives, training camps for each team will begin one after another, and the 1990-1991 season is drawing ever closer.

Gan Guoyang did not tell anyone, including Jordan, about Charles Barkley's desire to leave the Washington Bullets.

Before parting, he reminded Barkley that no matter which city he played in, maintaining a good level of performance and letting his on-court performance speak for itself was the best way to deal with doubts and attacks.

Moreover, he should sometimes watch his mouth and think more about his wife and children, instead of always talking nonsense (which they probably won't listen to).

Barkley nodded. He knew Forrest Gump was right. He was no longer a gluttonous and playful boy, but a man with responsibilities.

Barkley also considered his family when he wanted to leave Washington; he hoped to go to a city with a more relaxed atmosphere and a better environment.

Although Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, it has a poor security situation. In 1989, there were 400 murders in a single year, making it the city with the most murders in the United States and a veritable "murder capital". Moreover, this number continues to rise.

The city is plagued by drug trafficking and violent crime, and gangs are rampant. Baltimore, which is adjacent to Washington, D.C., is a crime capital and one of the cities with the highest crime rates in the United States.

Although Barkley could afford to live in an affluent neighborhood and receive police protection, he still didn't want his children to grow up in such an environment.

Portland is indeed a good place, but Barkley will not allow himself to ride on Forrest Gump's coattails; he wants to defeat Forrest Gump and Jordan fair and square in the playoffs.

After returning to Portland, Gan Guoyang participated in the 1990 Trail Blazers rookie training camp as usual.

Because they had the best record in the league, the Trail Blazers only had the last first-round pick in the 90 NBA draft, while their second-round pick was given to the Knicks in a trade involving Vandeweghe.

Jerry West, who had the last pick, carefully selected and then drafted power forward Antonio Davis from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

UTEP's head coach was Don Hudgens, a famous NCAA coach. In 1966, he led UTEP, whose starting lineup consisted entirely of blacks, to defeat the all-white Kentucky University led by John Rupp in the NCAA final, becoming the first team in NCAA history to win the championship with an all-black starting lineup. His story and that of the team were later made into the movie "Paths of Glory".

Davis played for UTEP for four years, partnering with current Warriors star Tim Hardaway, and was a key player in the team's frontcourt.

However, Davis did not attract the attention of any teams in the 1990 NBA Draft because his height and playing style destined him to be a role player.

Most experts and scouts predict that Davis will drop to the second round, or even be left out of the draft.

Jerry West didn't think he had any special talent, but rather valued his strong physique and well-developed muscles.

Jerry West originally wanted to draft Campbell from Clemson University, but Campbell was picked up by the Lakers with a higher draft pick.

West opted for Davis as a second choice to fill the void left by Anthony Mason's departure.

Mason made a stunning debut in the Grand Finals in June, showcasing his formidable physical prowess and unwavering willpower.

As the twelfth man, Mason made no basic mistakes in defense or offense, played most of the quarter, and successfully completed his task.

If Mason had performed like this in the regular season, no one would have cared, but this is the NBA Finals, the highest-rated NBA Finals game to date.

Mason's value skyrocketed because of this game, but as a second-round pick, he only signed a one-year short-term contract with the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers want to keep Mason, but they can't offer him a long or high contract. After all, no matter how well he performs, he's only the twelfth man, and they can't let him take up too much salary cap space.

At this point, Pat Riley, the "Portland Scavenger," stepped in again, contacted Mason, and signed him to a four-year contract, allowing him to bring Muscle to the South Coast.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the Trail Blazers were unable to match the contract offered by the Heat and could only watch helplessly as Mason was poached.

Mason didn't want to leave Portland. He won a championship there and was happy playing and training alongside Forrest Gump.

After receiving an offer from the Heat, Mason called Gan Guoyang for his opinion, but Gan Guoyang supported Mason going to Miami.

"A player's career is very short. For the sake of your family and life, cherish every big contract. Portland can't offer you a long-term contract like that no matter what, and you'll have more playing time in Miami. Pat Riley is a good coach, and you'll learn a lot playing alongside him. You can create your own glory."

Hearing Gan Guoyang say this, Mason finally let go of his obsession and called Riley back to say that he would go to Miami.

As a result, Gan Guoyang no longer saw Mason's dark figure at this new recruit training camp, and the gym was also missing a good partner who had always been with him.

Jerry West chose Antonio Davis as Mason's replacement. Davis is also 6'9" tall, strong, and a good fit for fitness.

West's goal was clear: the team's 12th man was Forrest Gump's bodyguard and enforcer. If things got heated during the game, the 12th man had to be able to step in and calm things down.

If you can't settle the matter, you'll have to settle the matter with the other party.

Gan Guoyang was suspended for two games in the Finals against the Pistons.

Fortunately, the Trail Blazers won both of their home games, and fortunately, Isaiah Thomas will miss the second game.

Similar incidents may happen again in the future, and there must be a scapegoat on the bench.

In addition to Davis, the Trail Blazers also signed several other players to short-term contracts in the free agent market to support training camp.

Sabonis missed the rookie training camp due to a knee injury, and the doctor advised him to rest well.

Sabonis was exhausted during the FIBA ​​World Championship, with fluid buildup in his knee. This was his last time playing for the Soviet Union.

Petrovic and Divac returned to Portland on time for the rookie training camp, but they had gone from being inseparable to being like strangers.

Previously, their lockers were placed side by side, but this time they are placed on opposite sides, far apart.

In the past, they would chat and laugh during every training session, go home together after training, and then take a car together to the training hall the next day.

Now they go home after practice, Divac always leaves first, while Petrovic practices a little longer before leaving, and they ignore each other during training.

Bobby Bellman initially didn't know what was going on and scolded the two of them, telling them not to throw a tantrum like children.

Later, Berman learned the whole story: Divac had become public enemy number one in Croatia, and Petrovic was under immense pressure after returning home.

In Croatia, many fans want Petrovic to leave Portland, believing he can no longer play with Divac.

But Petrovic didn't want to leave Portland. He was just starting to make a name for himself in the league, and he had even won a championship. His basketball career was just beginning.

Here he has Coach Bellman who values ​​him, a mentor like Forrest Gump who is someone he can learn from and emulate for a lifetime, passionate and lovable fans, and a great locker room atmosphere.

Petrovich couldn't think of any reason to leave, but he also didn't know how to get along with Divac.

The closer their relationship was in the past, the more awkward they are now when they're together.

Bellman saw it all, Gan Guoyang saw it all, and Jerry West saw it all.

After training one day, the players left one by one, until only Gan Guoyang and Petrovic remained in the stadium.

The two of them always practiced the hardest and for the longest time.

Compared to last season, Petrovic has undergone significant changes in appearance.

He used to have long, curly hair and looked like a young, immature boy.

This summer, Petrovich cut her hair short, transforming her voluminous long curls into a normal length.

This disappointed many female fans who admired his handsome appearance.

Another point is that Petrovic is noticeably stronger than last season.

During the offseason, he specifically hired a strength and conditioning coach to train himself and increase his muscle mass and weight.

He had already laid a good foundation last season, but the tight schedule and high physical exertion prevented him from building muscle. After the World Championships, he had a full period of training and rest, and his weight and muscle mass increased rapidly.

Last year, Petrovic was noticeably thinner, and because his back muscles were not thick enough, he had a slight hunchback.

After a summer of systematic training, his body became broad and thick, his hunchback disappeared, and his posture became more upright.

In Forrest Gump's words, "You look more like a man now."

After training each day, he would take some time to play one-on-one with Gan Guoyang.

He is still no match for Gan Guoyang, but compared to last season, he clearly knows how to use his body and physical contact.

Instead of trying to get past Gan Guoyang's defense by simply relying on speed and skill, he sometimes succeeded and scored some beautiful goals.

"I'm proud of your progress, Drazen. Now the distance between you and me is only 0.9 Michael Jordans," Gan Guoyang praised Petrovic.

However, Petrovic was not too happy about this. In fact, he was sullen throughout the training camp because of Divac and the tense situation in Yugoslavia.

Gan Guoyang looked at the worry on Petrovich's brow and said, "Hey, Drazen, I heard you want to seek a trade and leave Portland."

Upon hearing Gan Guoyang's words, Petrovich quickly denied it, saying, "No! No, I didn't... I really like staying in Portland. It's great here, very great."

"Then why do you look so sullen? This season is our season to defend our title."

"Forrest Gump, you know why. I... I don't know how to get along with Vlad, I can't. Can you help me?"

Gan Guoyang fell silent. He was always capable of anything with the Trail Blazers, but he was powerless when it came to Sabonis, Petrovic, and Divac.

Gan Guoyang made a three-pointer and hit it accurately, saying, "Some things cannot be compromised or eased. You should understand this."

Hearing Forrest say the same thing, Petrovich's eyes dimmed, and he said, "Maybe I really should leave... It's better than this awkward situation, which only makes things difficult for you."

Gan Guoyang said, “Don’t rush into a decision, and don’t overthink it. Remember, the world is always changing, so be patient. Things will get worse, but they will also get better. I believe that the friendship between you and Vlad is genuine, but people can’t escape their own positions, nor can they reverse the environment and trends. The only thing we can control is the basketball in our hands.”

With that, Gan Guoyang tossed the ball to Petrovic, and the two continued practicing in the training hall.

Gan Guoyang has no intention of easing the conflict between Divac and Petrovic.

Their conflict is not a personal conflict, but an ethnic conflict, which is beyond the control of outsiders.

Gan Guoyang himself has a deep understanding of this, and he will not do anything in vain.

He thought that instead of trying to reconcile Petrovic and Divac, it would be better to let them leave each other alone and focus on playing.

Maintaining composure off the field while cooperating normally on it is not impossible in the sports industry; in fact, it is common.

For example, Bird and McHale, the two core players of the Celtics, didn't like each other, never spoke to each other off the court, and were not friends.

But on the court, they cooperate seamlessly and are tacit teammates.

Furthermore, Jordan and Pippen didn't have a good relationship. Whenever Jordan and Jordan were together, Pippen was never seen.

In the NBA, it's common for players to have incompatible personalities and not be able to be friends, but that doesn't usually prevent them from playing well.

Divac and Petrovic are both passionate about basketball, and Gan Guoyang believes they can ensure that off-court issues don't affect on-court performance.

So after talking with Petrovic, Gan Guoyang planned to find some time to have a proper talk with Divac.

However, the next morning, Gan Guoyang was the first to arrive at the training hall, only to find that someone else had arrived even earlier than him—Jerry West.

"Hey! Jerry! Why are you here so early? Did your wife kick you out of the house and you have nowhere to sleep? Or is our general manager warming up, preparing for his comeback game?" Gan Guoyang joked with West.

West, without a smile, went straight to the point: "Sonny, I'm ready to make a deal."

"A trade? What, you're going to send me to the Lakers?"

"..."

“Portland fans would kill me if I did that. It’s about the Divac trade.”

Mentioning Divac, Gan Guoyang's heart sank. He asked, "Are you planning to trade Vlad?"

West nodded and said, "You saw what happened at the training camp. The conflict between Divac and Petrovic is irreconcilable. This isn't something that can be resolved by two people hugging and having a heart-to-heart talk; it's an ethnic conflict."

Gan Guoyang said, "But that doesn't mean they can't cooperate well on the court. Being indifferent off the court but playing well on the court is entirely possible."

“It’s certainly feasible, but it would ruin our perfect locker room atmosphere, and their relationship would be a ticking time bomb. I have friends in Europe who say that a civil war in Yugoslavia was inevitable, and that Serbia and Croatia could very well break out into a national war. This isn’t just a matter of bad relations or personality clashes, you understand, Forrest?”

Gan Guoyang fell silent. West was right.

Tensions are high in Yugoslavia, with Croats and Serbs hostile to each other.

If it had developed into a civil war, the relationship between the two would have been more than just "disagreement".

"The situation in Yugoslavia isn't too serious yet, and there's not much international attention. Trading one of them before the conflict fully erupts is the optimal solution. If we wait until the conflict explodes before resolving it, firstly, the team atmosphere will be completely destroyed, and secondly, the player's trade value will be greatly reduced. So, now is the best time."

"Then...why Vlad?"

“Sonny, you should know why, because we have you, we have Arvidas! Vlad is very good, but he may not be able to reach his full potential in Portland. Going to another team might not be a bad thing for him, just like Mason did.”

Jerry West's words make a lot of sense, a point that Gan Guoyang actually understands.

But he was a sentimental person. Divac was the youngest and most lively of the Eastern European trio.

He was humorous and witty, and despite having the worst English, he was the most talkative, making him the team's source of joy.

Nobody dislikes him. With him around, the training camp is always full of fun. If he leaves, everyone will be disappointed and sad.

It's easy to imagine that the saddest person must be Petrovich, who knew that Divac had to leave because of him.

West noticed Forrest's hesitation. He knew Forrest was sentimental, so he patted Gan Guoyang on the shoulder and said, "Sonny, you know that's how the NBA is. It's not just Vlad, nobody stays in one place forever, not even you. Maybe one day you'll want to go somewhere else too."

Gan Guoyang knew that West was right; in fact, the management didn't need to consult with the players before making decisions.

But West respected Gan Guoyang and knew he was the team leader, so he had to make sure he was properly informed.

“I trust your professionalism, Jerry.”

"Yes, I will try to complete this trade before the start of preseason training camp to mitigate the impact of Vlad's departure on everyone."

Gan Guoyang knew that since Jerry West had informed him, the preparations for the trade must have been almost complete, and only the final step was needed.

Therefore, Vlade Divac's departure from Portland is now imminent.

However, that very afternoon, after practice, a major trade news story that shook the league broke:
Charles Barkley requested a trade, and he was sent by the Washington Bullets to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Tom Chambers, Andrew Long, and Tim Perry.

Upon receiving this news, Gan Guoyang immediately contacted Charles Barkley and praised him: "Charles, you are really brave to come to the West?"

Barkley yelled into the phone, "Sonny, your reign in the West is over!"

(End of this chapter)